Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning monarch of Britain, became queen on Feb. 6, 1952, after her father King Georgie VI died in his sleep of a coronary thrombosis at age 56. Take a look back at her incredible reign 66 years after she took the throne.

The life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation ceremony, 1953

Queen Elizabeth II peeks out from the window of a state coach on her way to Westminster Abbey for her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953. The Queen ascended the throne after her father King George VI passed away in February, 1952 at age 56. Elizabeth was 27 years old.